Education

The Ministry Of Education’s Statement Concerning The Reassignment Of Teachers

Deputy Chief Education Officer of the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training (METVT), Joy Adamson, met with the executive members of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) and Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) on Monday, September 11, 2023, to clarify the process for reassignment of temporary teachers to nursery, primary and special schools.

Mrs. Adamson reminded the union members that temporary teachers are assigned to fill a variety of openings, namely retirements, resignations, term’s leave, sick leave, no pay leave, maternity leave, and study leave.

At the end of their assignments evaluation reports are prepared by the Principal. Once openings are identified and there are no adverse reports, the temporary teachers are issued contracts, which detail their period of engagement. The contract states the start date and the end date of the assignment as shown below:

I am directed to inform you that the Chief Education Officer, by virtue of the Delegation of Functions, (Public and Police Services) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Order; 1974, has approved your temporary appointment as graduate teacher, Ministry of Education for the period < Start date e.g. 14 April, 2023 > until further notice but not later than < End date e.g. 14 July 2023>

This year, the process of the reassignment of teachers was no different. The METVT reevaluated the staffing needs of each school and was in the process of assigning teachers.

There were some schools where the class roll was very low and it was therefore considered that the teacher to student ratio was low, negating the need for the high number of teachers assigned to the school. Those teachers have been reassigned to other schools. Consequently, those teachers whose tenure was short term could not be accommodated at this time. All these assignments would have ended at the end of the third term, July 14, 2023, or at the end of school year August 31, 2023.

There have been no interviews for new assignments of temporary teachers to nursery, primary and special schools for this academic year.

As at September 11, 2023, twenty-two (22) teachers, who had been assigned during the last academic year, remained to be assigned. This is due to the return of the substantive teachers who were on leave. The Deputy Chief Education Officer reminded the unions that as openings occur, these persons would be assigned.

The meeting was cordial with queries from both unions being addressed. The METVT promised that an update of the situation would be presented by the end of this week.

The METVT wishes to reiterate that temporary teachers have not been retrenched contrary to comments made in certain areas of the press. (PR/GIS)

Education

Immigration Webinar For Students Wishing To Study In Canada

Barbadians interested in pursuing studies in Canada are invited to participate in the online Immigration Seminar of the Consulate General of Barbados, in Toronto.

The Consulate, as part of its annual activities to observe National Heroes Day, is hosting a week of activities, and the key event will be the Immigration Seminar tomorrow Thursday, April 24, at 6:00 p.m.

Over the past 12 months, there have been significant changes to the requirements and processes for obtaining an international student visa. As a result, the seminar will focus on the recent changes to the entry requirements for international students coming to Canada to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate studies.

Prospective students, as well as parents, guardians, guidance counsellors, school teachers and principals, who have a vested interest in obtaining the most up-to-date and accurate information to make the most informed choice from the available study options, are encouraged to participate in the online seminar.

Alana Alleyne, a barrister and solicitor, will cover areas such as the latest changes to international student visas, eligibility criteria for student visas, requirements for postgraduate work permits, and changes to eligibility for spousal work permits. (PR/GIS)

Education

Information Session For Teachers Keen On Working In USA

Primary school teachers interested in working in the United States of America (USA) are invited to an upcoming Information Session, tomorrow Thursday, April 24.

The session will be hosted in the Main Conference Room of the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector, Warrens Office Complex, Warrens, St. Michael, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The initiative is being facilitated by the Ministry, in partnership with the Barbados Employment and Career Counselling Service, the Barbados Union of Teachers, and Participate Learning, a USA recruitment firm.

During the event, Participate Learning will share important information on the application and recruitment processes, as well as on working in the USA. (PR/GIS)

Education

Ellerslie Students Welcomed At Barbados’ Embassy In Panama

The Embassy of Barbados in the Republic of Panama was pleased to welcome The Ellerslie School students and staff to its Chancery in Panama City, recently.

Chargé d’Affaires, Sandra Gittens, in her welcome to the group, which included Principal, Andrea Baptiste and Deputy Principal, Carl Applewhaite, shared the history of the mission, noting that the Embassy was established in 2020.

Mrs. Gittens said this was “in line with the Barbados Government’s desire to strengthen its relations and cooperation with Panama across a number of areas, including trade, investment, tourism and education”.

She expressed the hope that the visit would signal the start of a new relationship with The Ellerslie School in pursuit of future student-to-student and teacher-to-teacher exchanges, in collaboration with the Ministries of Educational Transformation and Training and Tertiary Education and its Panamanian counterpart, within the framework of the memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries.

Speaking on the value of learning a foreign language, First Secretary, Shireifa Joseph, spoke of her experience as a foreign language student and the positive impact that it has had on her career.

She encouraged the students to continue their foreign language journey, signalling that they were well on their way to becoming “bridge builders” in their future careers with the capacity to connect Barbados to other countries across the globe.

Counsellor at the Embassy, Michelle Carter, also noted the value of language learning, especially for those studying tourism, stating that developing a strong proficiency in a foreign language will serve as a critical tool in opening doors to their success in this sector, whether in Barbados or abroad. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Students, teachers and parents of the Ellerslie secondary school to the Embassy of Barbados in the Republic of Panama